Matthew Glaetzer out to use Track Nations Cup as springboard to Paris Olympics success

Matthew Glaetzer’s final road to Paris starts now — and in his hometown of all places. The Aussie cyclist tells how he overcame Tokyo disappointment to push for another Olympic shot.

Australia's Matthew Glaetzer waves to the crowd after winning bronze in the men's sprint event at the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane, Sunday, December 15, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The motivation is well and truly back for Matthew Glaetzer.

Now the two-time world champion is daring to dream of an Olympic medal in the men’s team sprint as he begins the journey for what is set to be his fourth and final Games at the Track Nations Cup in hometown Adelaide.

The 31-year-old and the highly regarded Australian men’s sprint team will be in action on the first day of the three-day Track Nations Cup at the Super-Drome on Friday for the event that shapes as a key lead-up and qualification tune-up for many of the best track cyclists in the world before the Paris Games this year.

For Glaetzer he never really expected an international race to come to his hometown.

“It makes a huge difference for us, not having to fly around the world like we normally do,” he said.

“To have one here locally where we are all based is a pretty big advantage for us, it keeps our preparation smooth and doesn’t interrupt it too much so there is a lot in our favour just outside of the racing itself, it doesn’t impact our training like it normally would.”

Matthew Glaetzer celebrates winning Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

After the Tokyo Games in 2021, a disappointing one for him and the Australian team in general, Glaetzer didn’t think he would have another Olympics in him.

“Tokyo for me was really hard to come back from, I had to overcome a lot to get there and for it to be a bit disappointing was a bit of a hit,” he said.

“So for me there was a point where I didn’t think I would be doing another Olympics but things have fallen into place and I have come back and come back stronger. It is all looking good and our team has developed really well over the past three years.

“To be honest it was really a matter of wanting to do it, after Tokyo I didn’t really have too much motivation and it was a sense of ‘OK I will keep chipping away at it and see where things go and see if I really want to step away or I want to keep going”.

“And it gradually got to the point where I really started to enjoy it and fire it up and see opportunities and could see Paris as an exciting venture for me to try and get to the fourth Olympics which is huge.”

Matthew Glaetzer is thrilled to have such a big event in his hometown. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

The results on the track helped.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England, Glaetzer, Matthew Richardson and Leigh Hoffman won the team sprint and then he took out the 1km time trial.

Later that year, with Tom Cornish in the mix, they became the first Australian team to become world champions in the team sprint since 2012 – which Glaetzer was a member of with Shane Perkins and Scott Sunderland.

“We have had a great two years,” he said.

“The Commonwealth Games was a great event and having my wife (Nikki) there was awesome and it has been a super encouraging and motivating period that we have been in as a men’s team sprint.

“And winning the world title was huge, that was out of this world.

“That was such a big achievement and it had been a while between drinks for me and it was just so satisfying to be up there again as world champions and it just fuels the fire for the Olympics.

“It makes you dream of what it could be like at the games, we know that it isn’t going to be easy but it really does create that sense of belief when you know you physically can do it.

“There is a difference knowing that you are able but physically doing it is something different and it has really fired up our team.”

Matthew Glaetzer shows off his Commonwealth Games gold.

Glaetzer will also compete in the individual sprint and the keirin, but it is the team event that is his biggest focus ahead of Paris – which the self-proclaimed “old dog” of the team says will likely be his last Olympics.

“Knowing how strong we are in the team sprint I’m all in for the team sprint,” he said.

“So that is my focus, I am all in for the team. I know what can be possible and I have been there three times to the Olympics and have not stepped on the podium.

“I know where the importance is and I know how privileged we are to be in this position and I’m just giving my everything to put our team in the best position possible going into Paris because that is the event that we have had the most consistent results over the last couple of years.

“The last five Olympics we have come fourth so it is pretty brutal. It is something that we are looking to change.

“Everyone does shoot for gold, you want to win but an Olympic medal is a huge achievement in itself.

“We have tried so hard for so long as a men’s team sprint and we haven’t got it yet.

“So to see that it is the closest it has ever been and right at the top too is super exciting and our team is chomping at the bit to show what we have got in Paris.”

Originally published as Matthew Glaetzer out to use Track Nations Cup as springboard to Paris Olympics success